Final push: Barca fights to keep Flick on the bench for El Clasico

Barça's last-ditch bid to unleash Flick from the bench

Barcelona remains hopeful that German coach Hansi Flick will be on the bench for the Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, as part of La Liga's Round 10.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Barça has filed a fresh appeal with the Spanish Sports Court (TAD) to overturn the appeals panel decision, arguing that the images do not refute the referee Gil Manzano's report.

What happens if the appeal fails?

Barça wants Flick to lead from the technical area after the punishment kept him away from the bench in the classic duel against Real Madrid.

If the appeal is rejected, assistant coach Markus Zorg would take charge on the touchline, while Flick would monitor the match from another location with lines of communication kept open with the staff to ensure the plan remains intact.

This move underlines how pivotal the Clasico is for Barça as they chase La Liga supremacy and a strong domestic title challenge against their long-time rival.

Barcelona notes that Flick's absence from the bench does not warrant a ban, pushing them to escalate the matter to maximize the chances of Flick's on-field involvement in one of the season's most high-stakes fixtures.

Meanwhile, if Flick remains sidelined, the match will see Marcus Zorg make the first-choice coaching appearance on the touchline, with Flick watching from a non-technical area while staying in constant contact with the staff to execute the agreed plan.

Barça sit second in La Liga with 22 points from 9 games, 7 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss, 24 goals scored and 10 conceded, while Real Madrid lead with 24 points, 8 wins and 1 loss, 20 for, 9 against. In Europe, Barça is riding high after a 6-1 beatdown of Olympiakos in the Champions League. With some returning starters and a motivated home crowd, Barça head into the Clasico with boosted morale, while Madrid aims to extend their advantage at the top and capitalize on home advantage in what promises to be one of the season's most exciting clashes.

The Clasico is watched worldwide as the two teams battle for top spot, two points apart, continuing a historic rivalry between two of Europe’s most storied clubs.

Punchline 1: If Flick can pull this off, the only thing heavier than the trophy will be the sigh of relief from Blaugrana fans—tactical genius, not a magic wand.

Punchline 2: And if not, well, at least the press conference will be entertaining enough to deserve its own stand-up special—because football drama sells tickets and hashtags alike.